Kildare County Council has written to the Department of Defence, highlighting complaints made by residents of the Curragh, whose properties have reportedly suffered damages by livestock in the area.
According to minutes taken of a recent Kildare County Council meeting, residents of Curragh Downs, Curragh View and Orchard Park have contacted their local representatives, informing them of the property damages which have been inflicted by sheep grazing on the Curragh.
According to Kildare Council Council, the damage has resulted from a lack of measures in place to control and prevent access to these residential areas.
Local councillor, Pat Balfe, who has been liaising with the affected residents, explained to council members during the meeting that the inhabitants were “upset” and stressed over the damages caused to their gardens.
He claimed that the sheep faeces were preventing young people from accessing public green spaces in the estates, which also presented a health and safety risk to local residents.
Balfe said that complainants took pride in their gardens but were feeling “deflated” due to the ongoing nature of damages waged on their properties by the sheep grazing in the area.
He noted that his previous attempts to contact the Department of Defence over this issue, were made to no avail.
On the back of a report published by the Roads, Transportation and Public Safety Department, Kildare County Council agreed to pen a collective letter to the Department of Defence, appealing for a resolution in relation to the matter.
Curragh plains
Grazing of sheep on the Curragh Plains, which measures approximately 4,780ac is permitted under the Curragh of Kildare Acts of 1870, 1961 and 1969.
The Department of Defence requests farmers to complete annual claim forms in order to gain “rights of pasture” for their flock and once these sheep claims have been verified, the Curragh brand is then applied to the sheep by the Maor.
Sheep are allowed graze on all Curragh lands with the exception of the Defence Forces Training Centre and other enclosed lands, such as the Curragh Racecourse, which amounts to an estimated 3286 acres of grazing pasture.
According the Department of Defence, as of 2024 reports, 3078 sheep graze in the area.